Hospital patient&#39;s chart holder



Dec. 6, 1966 J. A. SAUNDERS HOSPITAL PATIENTS CHART HOLDER Filed Oct. 15, 1964 It? IIIIIIII! INVENTOR JOSEPH A. SAUNDERS z'o n ATTORNEYS United States Patent ()fiice 3,289fi76 Patented Dec. 6, 1966 sesame HOSPITAL lPATlENTS CHART HOLDER Joseph A. Saunders, Readfield, Maine Filed Oct. 15, 1964, Ser. No. 404,092 7 Claims. (Cl. 129-45) This invention relates to the keeping of records of various kinds, including at hospitals and other places, and to equipment employed to facilitate the performance of various and sundry tasks which are a part of the over-all operations or activities of our everyday lives.

The invention relates particularly to the keeping of hospital records and to equipment employed including records or charts relating to patients, the treatments, medicines administered, and condition of the patients, as well as to holders for such charts or records in a manner to be readily accessible to doctors, nurses and attendants entrusted with the care and welfare of the patients.

The keeping of records on individual patients has been done in various ways intended to maintain the same readily available for quick convenient inspection. These chart holders have included. a type of loose-leaf binder of rectangular shape with a hinge at one end and a rod extending through the hinge and beyond with a roller on each to be received in slots or openings on a rack in a desk or otherwise, so that the holder can be supported with the holder suspended or depending. The front and back covers of the holder are urged together by springs to provide a clamping action between such front and back, the front having a second hinge spaced sufficiently from the first to accommodate therebetween a separate name plate holder and due to the second hinge the front can be opened and. used as a lever to move the second hinge to spaced relation from the back to allow the insertion and securing of loose-leaves therebetween containing data relative to the patient. This type of device has been in use for many years; nevertheless while useful it has disadvantages in that it is of poor appearance with too much of its upper portion exposed and therefore not as readily acceptable to streamlining and trimness as desired, as well as relatively heavy, somewhat cumbersome and clumsy to use, complicated and. expensive. Also it was incapable of being stood on a supporting surface to display the inner contents of a chart in the manner of a stenographers notebook.

It is an object of the invention to provide a simple practical relatively inexpensive hospital patients chart holder which will have a minimum exposure when not in use, which can be readily folded inside out and stood on a supporting surface to provide an independent support for the patients chart in a manner somewhat like a stenographers notebook leaving the hands free to type or transcribe notes, and of a construction to promote maximum sanitary conditions.

Another object of the invention is to provide a hospital patients chart holder composed of a pair of covers of identical length and size connected by a generally U-shaped hinge member having its ends fitted one to each cover with a supporting tube fastened therein and having its ends projecting from the same and with covering and. bearing caps of polyethylene, plastic or other substance of a relatively dense character with smooth surfaces in order not to provide recesses for disease germs, and with portions struck from the cover to receive a name or other indicia holding plate, and with a spring clip across the inside of the back cover.

It is another object of the invention to provide a compact hospital patients chart holder of the lightest weight, which does not have any portion greatly exposed when mounted in a rack and not in use, and. which contains a spring clip with a heavy duty pivotally mounted opening bar, instead of a hinge operating clip which has to be opened by breaking the same over the edge of a desk, table or the like, as well as a holder in which it is easier to insert, adjust and remove leaves and the pintle or hinge wire is crimped in so it wont creep out in use.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description taken in con junction with the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective illustrating the chart holder in a rack with other chart holders;

FIG. 2, a fragmentary perspective of the chart holder;

FIG. 3, a perspective of the chart holder turned inside out to expose the chart;

FIG. 4, a section on the line 4-4 of FIG. 2; and,

FIG. 5, a perspective of the spring clip.

Briefly stated the chart holder of the present invention is composed of a pair of rectangular front and back cover members hinged to opposite side of a generally U-shaped intermediate or connecting member attached to a sturdy supporting tube; such cover, intermediate, and tube members all are of aluminum magnesium type metal or other lightweight material having a highly polished surface of a character not to receive fingerprints and preferably with a pair of hinge caps over the ends of the supporting tube to serve as closures for the tube and as bearings when the chart holder is placed in a rack, such caps being preferably of a relatively dense surface material with a minimum facility for harboring germs, and which chart holder can be placed on a supporting surface in a manner to expose the chart for ready observation. While caps over the ends supporting hinge tube are preferred, particularly in view of the fact that they can be made of distinctive color to enhance the appearance, nevertheless such caps are not a prerequisite and may be omitted.

With continued reference to the drawing, the chart holder of the present invention is formed of a pair of front and back covers 10 of identical character, each cover having spaced hinge segments 11, which hinge segments can be attached by a pintle 12 of wire or rod stock with a generally U-shaped connector 13 including substantially parallel leg portions having complementary hinge segments 14 at the free ends thereof located in alignment with hinge portions 11 on the front and back covers and connected by the pintle 12.

The ends 11 of the hinge portions 11 are pinched together to retain the pintle 12 therein against accidental displacement. With the front and back covers hinged together as indicated, the ends of the covers remote from the hinge will be free. This construction allows each front or back cover to move freely of the other and consequently by spacing the free ends of the front and back covers slightly apart the chart can be supported in upright position on a desk, table or other surface regardless of whether the front or back cover is exposed to view.

In order to provide for the mounting of the holder in a rack 15 having receiving slots or openings 16 therein, a mounting member 17 preferably of circular section is provided of a length slightly greater than the length of the generally U-shaped connector 13 with exposed ends 18 providing bearing extremities to fit into the receiving slots 16 of the rack. As shown in FIG. 4 the circular tube 17 is snugly received within the corresponding circular 'bight section of the U-shaped connector 13 the substantially parallel leg portions of the latter preferably extending therefrom a distance approximating the radius of the tube 17 to position the hinge portion 11 adjacent to the lower peripheral edge portion of the tube. The generally U-shaped connector 13 and mounting member 17 may be fastened together in any desired manner, as for example, by rivets Zti. The mounting member 17 is illustrated as a tube for the placement of caps over the ends of the same or not as desired, although the invention is not limited to a tube, particularly when the caps are not used. One reason which can be advanced for using the tube is that it effects a saving of material as well as weight, although such saving can be considered of little consequence. The bearing caps 19 serve the dual function of closing the ends of the mounting tube as well as forming wear-resistant bearings for supporting the chart holder in the receiving slots or openings in the rack. These bearing caps preferably are of polyethylene, plastic or other substance having a dense highly polished surface not conducive to the existence of disease germs.

The front cover of the chart holder may have spaced oppositely disposed channel forming retaining cars 21 struck from the plate of which the front cover is formed and between the ears 21 a plate 22 for a name and/ or other information may be disposed. These retaining ears 21 are located near the hinged end of the front cover. In order that a particular chart may be readily recognized when the chart is in the rack of FIG. 1, the chart may have a name plate holder 21 secured in place by the rivets 20, such name plate holder having reversely turned edges 21" for receiving a card 22 carrying the name of a patient or other identification.

On the inside surface of the back or rear cover and facing toward the front is located a strong sheet holding clip 23 composed of a generally channel shaped fixed jaw 24 and an angular movable jaw 25 generally of inverted V-shaped section. The jaws 24 and 25 are of such size that they can be spiced apart enough to hold a large quantity of data sheets or leaves, The jaw 24 has spaced hinge portions 26 and the jaw 25 has spaced hinge portions 27 with a connecting pintle 28 of wire or rod stock, the ends of the outer hinge portions 27 on the angular movable jaw being provided with pinched extremities 29 to prevent the pintle from working from between the hinge portions which it connects. Around the pintle 28 are disposed springs 30 which urge the fixed and movable jaws of the clip toward each other.

In order to provide leverage for manually moving the jaws apart the angular movable jaw 25 is provided with a pivoted lever 31, movable parallel to the flat surface on which it is pivoted, having one end connected by a rivet 32 with the jaw 25 so that it can be swung from a position parallel to the jaw to a position at right angles thereto to provide a leverage. The remote end of the lever 31 is provided with a knurled or roughened surface 33 which can be engaged to move the movable jaw away from the fixed jaw. The edge of the movable jaw may be provided with an outwardly turned flange 34 to prevent the lever 31 from swinging outwardly beyond the free edge of the movable jaw. In order to enhance the gripping of the jaws the fixed jaw 24 may be provided with sawteeth 35 along its edge and the movable jaw may be provided with sawteeth 36 along its edge. In view of the fact that the fixed jaw 24 is channel shaped the sawteeth 35 extend upwardly from the cover to which it is attached by rivets or other means 37, and the sawteeth 36 of the angular movable jaw 25 extend beyond the sawteeth 36 thus insuring sheet material placed on the chart being firmly gripped and held,

It will be apparent from the foregoing that a chart holder is provided which is attractive, will not show fingerprints thereon, consists of a minimum number of lightweight parts, can be substantially contained concealed in a rack but can be easily manipulated to hold a chart in exposed position for observation while firmly holding the chart in place, thus affording full view of the shart, as well as a chart holder of the simplest construction and fewest parts.

It will be obvious to one skilled in the art that various changes may be made in the invention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof and therefore the invention is not limited by that which is illustrated in the drawing and described in the specification, but only as indicated in the accompanying claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A chart holder comprising front and back covers of identical character, each having spaced hinge portions at one end,

a generally U-shaped connector comprising a curved bight portion and spaced leg portions having space hinge portions at the free end of each leg portion complementary to the hinge portion of the front and back covers,

a pintle extending through the complementary hinge portions of the front and back covers and the respective U-shaped connector leg portions,

said hinge portions being constricted beyond the ends of the pintle for retaining the latter in place,

a mounting tube of a section having a curvature conforming to and mounted within the bight portion of said U-shape connector and of a length to extend entirely through and beyond the ends thereof with the exposed end portion of the tube serving as means by which the chart holder can be suspended,

said connector leg portions being of length approximating the diameter of said tube,

means securing said mounting tube to said generally U-shaped connector,

a cap disposed over each exposed end of said mounting tube providing a cover and wear-resistant hearing sleeve over each end of said tube,

said front cover having on its top surface near its hinge portions struck-up spaced oppositely channel-forming retaining portions for receipt of a name plate therebetween,

and a spring clip disposed along the inside surface of the back cover near the hinged end of the same,

said spring clip having clamping jaws for gripping opposite surfaces of a chart sheet therebetween.

2. A chart holder comprising front and back covers,

each having spaced hinge portions at one end,

a connector including an elongated arcuate portion having substantially parallel side portions extending therefrom having spaced hinge portions at the free ends of said side portions complementary to the hinge portions of the front and back covers,

a pintle extending through the complementary hinge portions of the front and back covers and each of said connector side portions,

said hinge portions being constricted beyond the ends of the pintle for retaining the latter in place,

a mounting tube of a diameter corresponding substantially to the curvature of said arcuate portion of said connector and of a length to extend entirely through and beyond the ends of said connector with the exposed end portions of the tube serving as means by which the chart holder can be suspended,

means extending through said curved portion of the connector securing said mounting tube to said connector,

said hinge portions on each of said side portions lying substantially in a common plane spaced from the curved portion of said connector a distance approximately equal to the diameter of said tube,

a cap disposed over each exposed end of said mounting tube providing a cover and Wear-resistant hearing sleeve over each end of said tube,

said front cover having in its top surface near its hinge portions struck-up spaced oppositely disposed channel-forming retaining portions for receipt of a name plate therebetween,

and a spring clip disposed along the inside surface of the back cover near the hinged end of the same,

said spring clip having clamping jaws for gripping opposite surfaces of a chart sheet therebetween.

3. A chart holder comprising a loose-leaf notebooktype structure having front and back covers and a hingetype connector means therebetween,

said connector means including a portion of circular section and a pair of substantially parallel leg por- 5 bearing means about each end of the mounting tube tions abreast of each other and of a length approxiproviding a wear-resisting support surface,

mating the radius of said circular portion, and means extending substantially entirely across the means pivotally mounting each of said front and back surface of one of said covers near the hinged end of covers from each of said leg portions thereby spacthe same for retaining sheet material on said cover ing said covers apart at one end thereof, 10 member.

a tubular member of circular section fitting in and 6. A hospital chart holder as defined in claim 5 wheresecured to said circular portion of said connector means and having bearing end portions extending beyond the ends of the latter,

in said last mentioned means comprises a channel-shaped jaw fixedly secured to and with its side portions extending outwardly from said back cover member,

bearing caps mounted on said bearing end portions, said channel-shaped member having saw teeth extendsaid front cover on the front surface thereof near said ing along the outer edge of one of said side portions connector means having struck-up portions thereand hinge means extending along the outer edge of on for the receipt of a name plate, the other of said side portions,

said back cover on the front surface thereof and near an angular jaw member generally of inverted V-shape said connector means having a spring clip thereon hingedly supported at one side thereof to the hinge of a height less than that of the circular portion of said connector means whereby said chart holder can be supported with front cover substantially fiat against the back cover and a chart therebetween or the chart and said back cover can be relatively rotated about said connector means and the chart holder self-supportingly stood with the free ends of the front and back covers resting on a support and the chart exposed for exterior observation.

4. A chart holder as defined in claim 3 wherein said spring clip includes a pair of elongated clamping jaw members,

one of said jaw members being pivotally mounted with respect to the other jaw member,

spring means biasing said jaw members towards each other to secure a chart sheet therebetween on said back cover,

said pivotally mounted jaw member having a fiat surface thereon,

and a lever pivotally mounted on said flat surface for movement outwardly of said flat surface and in a plane parallel thereto to provide additional leverage for said pivoted jaw member when manually moved in opposition to the bias of said spring means,

5. A hospital chart holder comprising front and back cover members of like character each having spaced and aligned hinge segments at one end,

a generally U-shaped connector having relatively short and substantially parallel leg portions extending across the chart holder,

said generally U-shaped connector having spaced and aligned hinge segments on the ends of said leg portions for complementary disposition between the spaced and aligned hinge segments of said front and back cover,

hinge members extending through the complementary hinge segments of the cover members and the U- shaped connector leg portions whereby said U- shaped connector pivotally connects and spaces apart said one end of said front and back cover means of said fixedly mounted channel-shaped member and having saw teeth at the other side thereof cooperative with the saw teeth of the channel-shaped member for engaging and retaining sheet material in the chart holder,

spring means biasing the saw teeth of said hingedly supported angular jaw member into operative holding relationship relative to the saw teeth on said fixedly secured channel-shaped member,

a lever pivotally mounted on an outer surface of the inverted V-shaped angular jaw member movable parallel to said outer surface to provide additional leverage when extended outwardly therefrom for manually effecting pivotal movement of the angular jaw against the bias of said spring means.

7. A hospital chart holder as defined in claim 5 Wherein said last mentioned means comprises:

a channel-shaped jaw member fixedly mounted on the back cover member,

an angular jaw member pivotally mounted on said channel-shaped jaw member having saw teeth along one side thereof cooperative with the saw teeth on said channel-shaped member for engaging and retaining sheet material in the chart holder,

spring means biasing the saw teeth of said pivotally mounted jaw member into operative holding relationship relative to the saw teeth on said fixedly mounted jaw member,

an elongated member mounted on said pivotally mounted angular jaw member to move parallel thereto and provide additional leverage for effecting pivotal movement of the angular jaw member against the bias of said spring means,

and abutment means on said pivotally mounted angular jaw member for limiting movement of said lever beyond the said one side edge thereof.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS members 1,731,180 10/ 1929 Sherman 12937 X a mounting tube of a diameter to fit snugly within the- $3 2 1; 6 1 bight of said U-shaped member and of a length to 2,731,941 1/1956 Anderson 129 37 X have exposed ends thereon pro ecting beyond the ends of the U-shaped connector and serving as sup- FOREIGN PATENTS port means by which the chart holder may be sus- 676,101 7/1952 Great Britain.

pended, a name plate holder,

JEROME SCHNALL, Primary Examiner. 

3. A CHART HOLDER COMPRISING A LOOSE-LEAF NOTEBOOKTYPE STRUCTURE HAVING FRONT AND BACK COVERS AND A HINGETYPE CONNECTOR MEANS THEREBETWEEN, SAID CONNECTOR MEANS INCLUDING A PORTION OF CIRCULAR SECTION AND A PAIR OF SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL LEG PORTIONS ABREAST OF EACH OTHER AND OF A LENGTH APPROXIMATING THE RADIUS OF SAID CIRCULAR PORTION, MEANS PIVOTALLY MOUNTING EACH OF SAID FRONT AND BACK COVERS FROM EACH OF SAID LEG PORTIONS THEREBY SPACING SAID COVERS APART AT ONE END THEREOF, A TUBULAR MEMBER OF CIRCULAR SECTION FITTING IN AND SECURED TO SAID CIRCULAR PORTION OF SAID CONNECTOR MEANS AND HAVING BEARING END PORTIONS EXTENDING BEYOND THE ENDS OF THE LATTER, BEARING CAPS MOUNTED ON SAID BEARING END PORTIONS, SAID FRONT COVER ON THE FRONT SURFACE THEREOF NEAR SAID CONNECTOR MEANS HAVING STRUCK-UP PORTIONS THEREON FOR THE RECEIPT OF A NAME PLATE, SAID BACK COVER ON THE FRONT SURFACE THEREOF AND NEAR SAID CONNECTOR MEANS HAVING A SPRING CLIP THEREON OF A HEIGHT LESS THAN THAT OF THE CIRCULAR PORTION OF SAID CONNECTOR MEANS WHEREBY SAID CHART HOLDER CAN BE SUPPORTED WITH FRONT COVER SUBSTANTIALLY FLAT AGAINST THE BACK COVER AND A CHART THEREBETWEEN OR THE CHART AND SAID BACK COVER CAN BE RELATIVELY ROTATED ABOUT SAID CONNECTOR MEANS AND THE CHART HOLDER SELF-SUPPORTINGLY STOOD WITH THE FREE ENDS OF THE FRONT AND BACK COVERS RESTING ON A SUPPORT AND THE CHART EXPOSED FOR EXTERIOR OBSERVATION. 